Efficient Computation of Radiative Heat Recovery from Porous Ceramic Monoliths for Efficient Solar Thermochemical Fuel Production

Solar thermochemical hydrogen (STCH) produced by heat-driven water-splitting is a promising route for producing green hydrogen and other zero-emission synfuels. However, the efficiency of STCH must be dramatically increased for it to make an impact on decarbonization efforts. We have previously pre...

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Main Authors: Aniket S. Patankar, Xiao-Yu Wu, Wonjae Choi, Harry Tuller, Ahmed Ghoniem
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: TIB Open Publishing 2024-10-01
Series:SolarPACES Conference Proceedings
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Online Access:https://www.tib-op.org/ojs/index.php/solarpaces/article/view/936
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author Aniket S. Patankar
Xiao-Yu Wu
Wonjae Choi
Harry Tuller
Ahmed Ghoniem
author_facet Aniket S. Patankar
Xiao-Yu Wu
Wonjae Choi
Harry Tuller
Ahmed Ghoniem
author_sort Aniket S. Patankar
collection DOAJ
description Solar thermochemical hydrogen (STCH) produced by heat-driven water-splitting is a promising route for producing green hydrogen and other zero-emission synfuels. However, the efficiency of STCH must be dramatically increased for it to make an impact on decarbonization efforts. We have previously presented a novel Reactor Train System (RTS) for significantly increasing the efficiency of STCH by employing heat recovery from the redox material and efficient gas exchange processes. In this paper we present a higher-fidelity model for the RTS that accommodates the slow heat diffusion through the STCH redox material. For this purpose, a novel method is introduced for transient modelling of radiative heat in participating media. This method, called GREENER: Generalized Radiation Exchange Factors and Net Radiation, combines the accuracy of Monte Carlo Ray Tracing with the low computational cost of the P1 or Rosseland diffusion approximations. Along with STCH, GREENER has application for modelling volumetric solar receivers, high temperature heat recovery systems like heat exchangers and regenerators, and packed bed reactors. Using the GREENER method, the RTS counterflow radiative heat exchanger is shown to achieve heat recovery effectiveness greater than 70%. The performance of non-uniform porous redox morphologies is evaluated, and high-performing configurations are identified.
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publisher TIB Open Publishing
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series SolarPACES Conference Proceedings
spelling doaj-art-b3c1813dca944b3b92e2abe1063d7f8f2025-08-20T01:47:37ZengTIB Open PublishingSolarPACES Conference Proceedings2751-98992024-10-01210.52825/solarpaces.v2i.936Efficient Computation of Radiative Heat Recovery from Porous Ceramic Monoliths for Efficient Solar Thermochemical Fuel ProductionAniket S. Patankar0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9386-2395Xiao-Yu Wu1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4084-3662Wonjae Choi2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7535-903XHarry Tuller3Ahmed Ghoniem4Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyUniversity of Waterloo Ewha Womans University Massachusetts Institute of Technology Massachusetts Institute of Technology Solar thermochemical hydrogen (STCH) produced by heat-driven water-splitting is a promising route for producing green hydrogen and other zero-emission synfuels. However, the efficiency of STCH must be dramatically increased for it to make an impact on decarbonization efforts. We have previously presented a novel Reactor Train System (RTS) for significantly increasing the efficiency of STCH by employing heat recovery from the redox material and efficient gas exchange processes. In this paper we present a higher-fidelity model for the RTS that accommodates the slow heat diffusion through the STCH redox material. For this purpose, a novel method is introduced for transient modelling of radiative heat in participating media. This method, called GREENER: Generalized Radiation Exchange Factors and Net Radiation, combines the accuracy of Monte Carlo Ray Tracing with the low computational cost of the P1 or Rosseland diffusion approximations. Along with STCH, GREENER has application for modelling volumetric solar receivers, high temperature heat recovery systems like heat exchangers and regenerators, and packed bed reactors. Using the GREENER method, the RTS counterflow radiative heat exchanger is shown to achieve heat recovery effectiveness greater than 70%. The performance of non-uniform porous redox morphologies is evaluated, and high-performing configurations are identified. https://www.tib-op.org/ojs/index.php/solarpaces/article/view/936HydrogenSolar ReceiverMonte Carlo Ray Tracing
spellingShingle Aniket S. Patankar
Xiao-Yu Wu
Wonjae Choi
Harry Tuller
Ahmed Ghoniem
Efficient Computation of Radiative Heat Recovery from Porous Ceramic Monoliths for Efficient Solar Thermochemical Fuel Production
SolarPACES Conference Proceedings
Hydrogen
Solar Receiver
Monte Carlo Ray Tracing
title Efficient Computation of Radiative Heat Recovery from Porous Ceramic Monoliths for Efficient Solar Thermochemical Fuel Production
title_full Efficient Computation of Radiative Heat Recovery from Porous Ceramic Monoliths for Efficient Solar Thermochemical Fuel Production
title_fullStr Efficient Computation of Radiative Heat Recovery from Porous Ceramic Monoliths for Efficient Solar Thermochemical Fuel Production
title_full_unstemmed Efficient Computation of Radiative Heat Recovery from Porous Ceramic Monoliths for Efficient Solar Thermochemical Fuel Production
title_short Efficient Computation of Radiative Heat Recovery from Porous Ceramic Monoliths for Efficient Solar Thermochemical Fuel Production
title_sort efficient computation of radiative heat recovery from porous ceramic monoliths for efficient solar thermochemical fuel production
topic Hydrogen
Solar Receiver
Monte Carlo Ray Tracing
url https://www.tib-op.org/ojs/index.php/solarpaces/article/view/936
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